FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 3-10-02

College Baseball: No. 6 AASU 11, SIU Edwardsville 2

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 6-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad continued its hot streak by capturing its 11^th win in a row, defeating SIU Edwardsville 11-2 in 2002 Savannah Invitational action at Pirate Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Pirates (23-3) jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the Cougars (8-6) via the longball as senior David Harriman launched a two-run home run in the first inning off of SIU Edwardsville starter Ryan Spurgeon (0-1). Sophomore Stacy Bennett then followed in the second inning with a solo home run of his own. The runs would be all the Pirates needed as junior Mike Roga (7-1) limited the Cougars to just two hits and one run, while striking out six over six innings to pick up his seventh win of the season. Sophomore Zach Shelnutt pitched the final three innings to pick up his fourth save.

Senior Kirk Nordness collected three hits and drove in three runs to lead the Pirates offensively, while senior Rob Mills and freshman Ryan Roeder each collected two hits apiece. The Cougars' Michael Bowen hit a solo home run to lead SIU Edwardsville.

The 11^th win in a row for the Pirates is the longest winning streak for AASU since 1997, when AASU won 11 straight games between March 9 and March 22^nd.

The Pirates are next in action on Monday, March 11 as they host Concord (W. Va.) at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field.

- Pirates -